1950s Big Wave Surfers Master Makaha's 35-Foot Waves (feat. Walter Hoffman & Hobie Alter)

[@youaskedforit]

Can you all help us track down the names of these surfers? We know one of them is Walter Hoffman, but it's difficult to make out the other names.

[@GIF_CANCEL]

Hobie Alder

[@GIF_CANCEL]

Frank Donahue

[@youaskedforit]

Thank you!

[@youaskedforit]

Thanks so much!

[@Eggs4ckley]

Alter. Hobie Alter

[@jaybleu6169]

Gee, that surfing footage was really swell. The chop on the faces of the waves really gave those surfers the business!

[@ehlava7331]

Right you are Jay, shooting the curl and yelling cowabunga as they took the drop, narrowly avoiding the soup.

[@windansea6702]

Though I don’t remember it, most likely I saw it as a kid and how could it not leave an impression. Thanks for sharing that!

[@youaskedforit]

You're welcome!

[@johnmitchelljr]

Well done. Thank you.

[@douglaswesson2458]

Considering their equipment and the waves they were going after, i have nothing but respect for them. Anytime the wave(s) are over your head, its serious business regardless of how great your equipment may be.

[@golds04]

From the music I thought either we were going to invade Normandy, or be invaded by sea monsters from outer space😂 Cool footage. 👊💯

[@michaelpanagiotis7109]

WestSide = Makaha ! UncLe BuffaLo is the Man at this spot . . .StiLL surfing , 2024 !

[@marvinacklin792]

Excellent!

[@ehlava7331]

Some big surf with no leashes, floaties, helmets, skis...respect. trailblazers for sure.

[@WhiteNacho]

Nice editing!

[@reddiver7293]

Classic!

[@Eggs4ckley]

Very inaccurate. Did they use AI to put this together? 😂 You don’t take off on a 2’ right hander and have it turn into a 30’ left especially at Makaha

[@youaskedforit]

No AI for the video. This is the clip exactly as it aired in the 1950s. Much easier to get away with inaccuracies back then.

[@Kaisoazion]

Pops up goofy then camera shows riding regular🤣

[@andrewjohnston3171]

My "educated" guess, having lived and surfed in Hawaii for nearly 50 years, is that the large lefthanders they're riding are simply Makaha in reverse. Look at some footage of Makaha at a similar size, but as a righthander which is what it actually is, and you will see.

[@djsurf]

fantastic - TY

[@youaskedforit]

Our pleasure!

[@edmccaffrey1]

The first go pro on the nose.

[@gatesurfer]

Yeah, and they’re invisible too!

[@jaydickey1049]

Dudes were charging!

[@wakeupthebear]

This is so weird. It’s like Makaha 5 foot. Then some 10-12 foot left. Not sure where that is? 🤨🧐

[@0bm31770]

As realistic as a Frankie and Annette movie.

[@Swayzeo]

😮😮

[@Surfnturf808]

Are the negatives reversed? Makaha is a right hander…

[@whitecloud3356]

😅it's not a left

[@daniel7___]

Not 35 foot Makaha. Not sure where the 15 foot wave is, but definitely not makaha. I live 30 minutes from there and surfed yesterday

[@gregorynewey4089]

😂😂funny how the riders stand up going left Goofy Foot stance on the big waves then the rider is suddenly going right on a much smaller wave with a Natural Stance. 😂😂

[@shaunmaree6493]

35 foot 😂

[@youaskedforit]

Should have just said “100”. No one fact-checked in the 50s.

[@starkotic]

Made for non surfers. This is really bad. And I knew Walt and Hobie. Don James sold out on this one. Lol.

[@thomassawicki2065]

An absurd mishmash of decietful editing hokey script . Also the surfers of that time could barely control .

[@charleskoehler9873]

Interesting how a person can perceive nothing but negativity from such a fun , very early piece of televised surfing. Sure - it wasn’t entirely accurate , but c’mon -- it’s from a 50’s variety tv show! Thousands of people got there first glimpse of surfing from that clip. So the film was flipped , who was harmed by that? Plus , we got to see surf photography pioneer Dr Don James. You , sir , have earned the Turd In The Punch Bowl Award.

[@thomassawicki2065]

@@charleskoehler9873 Have you ever seen a John Florence surf movie ? Do you know who JJF is ?

[@charleskoehler9873]

I know who that is , but I don’t follow his videos. Seen a few. Why do you ask?

[@thomassawicki2065]

@@charleskoehler9873 Because JJF is the epitome of how to surf and how to show surfing , in a movie , from his soul , the greatest living surfer of our time. If you could see the huge difference between these portrayals of Surfing , one a hokey BS showbiz exploitation of surfing, the other a work of art that inspires every Surfer who watches, maybe you would understand my condemnation of this old TV show. BTW ABC Wide Word of Sports would televise the Duke Contest every year, and they did a fine job of portraying our sport of Surfing.

[@charleskoehler9873]

Thomas , I watched some John John videos last night. Two points I’d like to make: - As for as declaring Florence the greatest living surfer , there is a large subjective element to that evaluation. He’s an outstanding surfer for sure, but personally I prefer the smooth style and trim shown by Torren Martyn. Such differences are what makes the world go ‘round. - Most importantly, comparing a 1950s tv show blurb on surfing to modern surfing and videos is pretty much meaningless; it’s like comparing apples to footballs - they are so dissimilar that there’s no real basis for comparison. I probably have a different perspective than you given my age , which is 72. Started surfing in ‘65. I’m going to guess you are a bit younger. That was then and this is now. CK